Influence Hunter vs IMA

clock Jan 08,2026

Choosing the right influencer partner can make or break your marketing results. Many brands weigh up agencies like Influence Hunter and IMA when they want structured campaigns instead of ad‑hoc gifting or one‑off creator deals.

You are usually looking for clear answers: who handles what, what kind of creators they bring in, and how involved your team needs to be day to day.

Table of Contents

What these influencer agencies are known for

The primary keyword for this page is influencer marketing agencies. Both Influence Hunter and IMA fall firmly into that camp, but they play different roles in the market.

One tends to lean into scrappy outreach and volume of creators. The other is often associated with polished branded work and deeper creator storytelling.

In simple terms, you are choosing between a more hustle‑driven partner and a more curated, brand‑first team. Both can work; the better choice depends on your stage, budget, and risk tolerance.

Influence Hunter in everyday language

Influence Hunter is widely known for helping brands reach many smaller and mid‑tier creators, often across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Campaigns usually focus on reach, product seeding, and measurable sales.

Services and what they actually do

Influence Hunter’s core offer typically includes end‑to‑end support. They handle outbound outreach, negotiation, content coordination, and reporting, so your internal team can stay lean.

They often emphasize finding creators who are willing to work on a mix of product, commission, and fees, stretching your budget as far as possible.

  • Influencer discovery and outreach at scale
  • Product seeding and gifting programs
  • Affiliate or performance‑driven deals
  • Content coordination and posting timelines
  • Basic reporting on reach, engagement, and sales impact

How Influence Hunter tends to run campaigns

Their style usually looks like this: agree on goals, define your customer profile, then contact a high number of creators that fit. The idea is to land many posts rather than a handful of big names.

They will usually write outreach messages, negotiate deliverables, and chase content deadlines. You approve the key creative direction and product talking points.

Creator relationships and ideal clients

Influence Hunter usually works with micro and mid‑tier creators who are open to brand partnerships that feel genuine but still performance‑driven. This can work especially well for:

  • Consumer brands testing influencer marketing for the first time
  • Shopify and DTC brands pushing direct sales
  • Companies happy to test many smaller creators instead of one big star

If you like frequent posting, many assets, and a numbers‑focused mindset, this agency structure may feel very comfortable.

IMA in everyday language

IMA, also known as Influencer Marketing Agency, is often associated with more established brands and larger, story‑driven campaigns. They typically support global or regional rollouts with carefully selected creators.

Services and what they actually do

IMA usually offers strategic planning, creator casting, campaign production, and detailed reporting. In practice, that means fewer creators overall, but each partnership is more crafted and aligned with your brand image.

  • Campaign strategy and concept development
  • Creator casting and longlist/shortlist curation
  • Contracting, usage rights, and brand safety checks
  • Content production support and quality control
  • Advanced reporting, including brand lift or sentiment where available

How IMA tends to run campaigns

Their campaigns usually start with a deep dive into brand positioning, target markets, and key messages. From there, they build a creative idea and bring in creators who can tell that story.

You will likely see detailed creator decks, content guidelines, and a structured approval process to keep everything on brand.

Creator relationships and ideal clients

IMA often works with a mix of mid‑tier and top‑tier creators, including those with more professional management. Campaigns tend to fit:

  • Brands focused on image, storytelling, and premium positioning
  • Companies doing multi‑market or global launches
  • Marketing teams that need clear brand safety and legal guardrails

If you want polished visuals, strong brand control, and a campaign that aligns with other media, this structure may feel more natural.

How the two agencies really differ

You are not just picking between names; you are choosing between different ways of working.

Scale and style of execution

Influence Hunter usually leans into volume. That means many outreach emails, many creators, and a larger number of posts. You win through spread and repetition rather than one big spotlight.

IMA usually favors a curated set of creators who match your brand world. You may see fewer posts overall, but each is tightly tied to your broader marketing story.

Measurement and what gets reported

Both agencies can report on views, clicks, and engagement. Influence Hunter often emphasizes sales tracking and traffic for direct‑response brands.

IMA may place more weight on brand outcomes, such as awareness, sentiment, and longer‑term relationships with key creators in your space.

Client experience and day‑to‑day feel

Working with a volume‑driven agency can feel fast, busy, and experiment‑heavy. You might get frequent updates on new creators joining and posts going live.

Working with a brand‑first agency may feel more like traditional campaign work. There are defined phases, creative decks, and set launch windows, with detailed recaps afterward.

Pricing style and how you work together

Both influencer marketing agencies tend to use custom pricing. You will not usually see public “plans” the way you would with software.

How Influence Hunter often prices

Expect flexible structures. They may work off campaign budgets or ongoing retainers that cover outreach, management, and reporting, while creator fees are handled within that budget.

Costs are usually influenced by:

  • Number of influencers you want to activate
  • Content formats and platforms involved
  • Use of product seeding, affiliate deals, or flat fees
  • Length of engagement and number of campaigns

How IMA often prices

IMA typically works with larger budgets. You are likely to see a defined campaign fee or retainer for strategy and management, plus creator fees that cover production and usage rights.

Pricing depends heavily on:

  • How many markets or regions are included
  • Tier of creators selected and required exclusivity
  • Production needs, such as shoots or complex concepts
  • Depth of reporting and measurement requested

Your level of involvement

Neither option is hands‑off if you care about results. Still, your day‑to‑day role will differ.

With a more volume‑oriented partner, you may be approving outreach templates and key messages, then letting them run. With a more curated partner, you may join creative workshops and detailed approval rounds.

Key strengths and real limitations

Every agency trade‑off matters. Knowing them upfront saves a lot of frustration later.

Strengths of Influence Hunter

  • Can activate many creators quickly, especially in niche markets
  • Often well suited to performance and e‑commerce goals
  • Good fit for brands that want to test fast and iterate
  • Typically comfortable working with product‑plus‑fee arrangements

A common concern is whether a volume‑heavy approach can keep content fully on brand as you scale.

Limitations of Influence Hunter

  • Campaigns may feel fragmented if not tightly briefed
  • Less focus on big creative concepts or long‑form storytelling
  • May not be ideal if you need celebrity‑level endorsements

Strengths of IMA

  • Strong alignment with broader brand campaigns and launches
  • Deep experience with multi‑market or global programs
  • Closer control over messaging, content style, and approvals
  • Better suited to long‑term partnerships with key creators

Limitations of IMA

  • Budgets may be higher than early‑stage brands expect
  • Campaign timelines can be longer due to planning and production
  • Less focus on raw outreach volume or aggressive product seeding

Who each agency is best for

The right partner depends heavily on where your brand is today and what you want from influencer work.

When Influence Hunter makes the most sense

  • DTC brands looking for sales and traffic within months, not years
  • Marketers who want to test many creators and find winning partners
  • Teams without the bandwidth to handle daily outreach themselves
  • Companies comfortable with mixed compensation models and affiliates

When IMA makes the most sense

  • Global or regional brands planning larger launches
  • Companies where brand image, safety, and storytelling are top priority
  • Teams who want campaigns to sync with TV, paid social, and PR
  • Marketing leaders who prefer fewer, deeper creator partnerships

When a platform like Flinque makes more sense

Not every brand needs a full‑service influencer agency right away. Sometimes a platform‑based approach is a better first step.

Flinque, for example, is positioned as a tool that lets brands discover creators, manage outreach, and run campaigns directly, without large retainers.

Signs you may prefer a platform

  • You already have someone in‑house ready to manage creators
  • You want to keep costs lower while testing influencer marketing
  • You prefer direct relationships with influencers instead of a middleman
  • You value having data and communication in one place you control

A platform approach is often best when you want learning and ownership. You can always bring in an agency later, once you know the kind of creators and content that work.

FAQs

Is it better to work with many small influencers or a few large ones?

It depends on your goals. Many small creators can spread risk and feel more authentic, while a few large names can create big spikes in reach. Most brands benefit from a mix, adjusted over time based on results.

How long should I test influencer marketing before judging results?

Plan for at least one to three campaign cycles. That usually means several months of testing different creators, formats, and offers. Single posts are rarely enough to judge if influencer marketing truly fits your brand.

Do I need an agency if I already work with some influencers?

Not always. If you only work with a handful of creators, you may be fine in‑house or with a platform. Agencies make more sense when you need structured campaigns, more creators, and deeper reporting.

How much time will my team still need to invest?

Even with full‑service agencies, your team will approve briefs, content, and strategy. Plan for regular check‑ins, feedback rounds, and internal alignment on goals and messaging.

Can I switch from an agency to managing influencers myself?

Yes. Many brands start with agencies to learn what works, then bring more work in‑house or move to a platform. If you plan this, make sure you negotiate access to insights and creator lists where possible.

Conclusion

Influence Hunter vs IMA reflects a bigger choice: high‑volume, performance‑oriented influencer activity versus curated, brand‑driven storytelling with selected creators.

If your priority is quick tests, many posts, and direct sales, the first route may fit better. If you want polished campaigns that sit alongside other media, the second likely makes more sense.

Start by getting clear on budget, expected timelines, and how involved your team can be. From there, speak with both agencies, ask about similar past work, and choose the partner whose working style matches how your brand actually operates.

Disclaimer

All information on this page is collected from publicly available sources, third party search engines, AI powered tools and general online research. We do not claim ownership of any external data and accuracy may vary. This content is for informational purposes only.

Popular Tags
Featured Article
Stay in the Loop

No fluff. Just useful insights, tips, and release news — straight to your inbox.

    Create your account